Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted restoration of a 40 percent disability rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD) with lumbar spondylosis and thoracolumbar scoliosis, effective June 17, 2022.

The Board remands the appeal for correction of errors in providing notice and a VA examination regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to consider the Veteran's symptoms without the use of medication.

The Board remands the claims for a new examination and retrospective opinion due to deficiencies in previous VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a CUE in the March 21, 2018 rating decision that denied service connection for lumbosacral and cervical spine disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for back, left knee, right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities as the evidence did not show that the Veteran had a current disability at any time during or recent to the pendency of the claim.

The Board granted service connection for a back condition and left lumbar radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to her military service.

The Board denied service connection for chronic sinusitis, and denied initial ratings higher than 50 percent for migraines with tension headaches, higher than 40 percent for a low back disability (lumbosacral strain claimed as pain of lumbar spine), and higher than 40 percent for right lower extremity neuropathy. The Board remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety or depressive disorder.

The Board granted the restoration of a 20 percent rating for intervertebral disc syndrome of the thoracolumbar spine, effective May 1, 2021. The claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent was denied.

The Board denied service connection for plantar fasciitis and anxiety, and remanded claims for service connection for GERD, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD and hypertension, and remanded several claims for further development.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and denied service connection for tinnitus. The remaining claims were remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, as well as entitlement to a TDIU prior to September 17, 2014.

The appeal for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome was dismissed as it was not timely filed.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and remanded the claims for a back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Board granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, chest pain, breathing issues, numbness in the hands, and foot pain based on a continuity of symptomatology and presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disability, and alcohol use disorder but granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral pes planus.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a back condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for a back disability, finding that the claim was not received within one year of the prior denial in October 2016.

The Board granted a 50 percent initial rating for the Veteran's major depressive disorder, recurrent episode, mild and generalized anxiety disorder but denied higher ratings for his lumbosacral strain and left shoulder disability.